Week 39 Luke
At the beginning of September I started tracking place-names in the gospels. And reading through Luke during the last ten days I saw quite a few places named: Nazareth Bethlehem Jerusalem the Jordan Galilee Capernaum Nain the Gerasenes Bethsaida.
But that was at first. Once I got past chapter nine I began noticing that place-names quit showing up. The end of the chapter said: as the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. When that last journey began I didn’t spot any geographic markers in chapters ten eleven twelve thirteen fourteen fifteen or sixteen (in the middle of that section it said that the Lord: went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. And a bit later: on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee). But I only got reoriented when the Lord arrived in Jericho & Bethphage & Bethany and then finally ended his trip at the end of chapter nineteen –the temple in Jerusalem.
The Lord’s last journey from Galilee to Jerusalem took about ten chapters. Roughly 425-verses – about 37% of the book – were devoted to the days it took to travel that 100 kilometer stretch of road.
Luke was by far most interested in that long trip up to Jerusalem during those last weeks of the Lord’s life on earth.
Note: quotes from Luke 9:51, 13:22, 17:11 (NIV). End of September reading progress: I finished Luke yesterday so I’m 85% done.